A26951:879
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
Part 3 › Chapter 5: Directions how to live by Faith upon Gods Promises.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To open the matter by a similitude: Suppose that Christ came again on earth as he did at his Incarnation, and should confirm his truth by the same miracles, and other means; and suppose he should then tell all the Country, I have a Kingdom at the Antipodes, where men never die, but live in perpetual prosperity; and those of you shall freely possess it, who will part with your own estates and Country, and go in a ship of my providing, and trust me for your Pilot to bring you thither, and trust me to give it you when you come there. My power to do all this, I have proved by my miracles, and my love and will, my offer proveth.] How now will you know whether a man believe Christ, and trust this promise or not? why, if he believe and trust him, he will go with him, and will leave all, and venture over the Seas whithersoever he conducteth him, and in that ship which he prepareth for him: But if he dare not venture, or will not leave his present Country and possessions, it is a sign that he doth not trust him.
If you were going to Sea, and had several Ships and Pilots offered you, and you were afraid left one were unsafe, and the Pilot unskilful, and it were doubtful which were to be trusted; when after all deliberation you choose one, and refuse the rest, and resolve to venture your life and goods in it, this is properly ⟨p. 257⟩called trusting it. So trusting in God, and in Jesus Christ, is not a bare opinion of his fidelity, but a PRACTICAL TRUST ▪ and that you may be sure to understand it clearly, I will once open the parts of it distinctly.
If you were going to Sea, and had several Ships and Pilots offered you, and you were afraid left one were unsafe, and the Pilot unskilful, and it were doubtful which were to be trufled; when after all deliberation you chuse one, and refuse the rest, and resolve to venture your life and goods in it, this is properly ⟨p. 257⟩called trusting it. So trusting in God, and in Jesus Christ, is not a bare opinion of his fidelity, but a PRACTICAL TRƲST and that you may be sure to understand it clearly, I will once open the parts of it distinctly.